Guangming Daily:

What achievements have been made to the space application system during the key technology verification phase of the space station? In addition, the Wentian and Mengtian lab modules will launch this year. What arrangements will be made for the space application system, and what achievements can be expected?

Zhong Hong'en:

Thank you for your questions. The core module has been operating in orbit for nearly one year, and the newly developed payloads of the space application system have been working stably and in good condition in orbit. The payloads are coordinated and matched with interfaces of relevant systems, and a large number of scientific experimental data and samples have been collected. We have made fruitful achievements mainly in the following aspects.

First, the scheme of the space-ground integrated system – a new-generation application mission – has been verified, including a globally advanced scheme that supports in-orbit sharing, a construction scheme of large-scale scientific research facilities, and a space-ground supporting scheme for low-latency broadband applications. These have laid a solid technical foundation for the in-orbit construction of application missions for the two lab modules.

Second, for the first time, China has in-orbit access to an advanced-communication-protocol-based optical fiber communication network. This highly reliable, wide-bandwidth network, with a large-capacity distributed storage system, is capable of computing at high speed in orbit. We have made breakthroughs in key technologies such as the globally advanced mechanical, electrical, and thermal integration of scientific experiment cabinets and created high-level supporting conditions for in-orbit application sharing.

Third, the container-free experiment cabinet has become China's first and the world's second research facility of its kind to work in orbit. Compared with other countries, this cabinet has higher-standard indicators and stronger capacities and has successfully completed experiments involving multiple material sample types and batches. Its heating temperature can reach above 2,000 degrees Celsius. It has discovered a variety of new phenomena and is undertaking in-depth scientific research on collected samples.

Fourth, for the first time, we have used our high-quality microgravity experiment cabinet to offset the influence of air disturbances and platform vibrations with air spray and magnetic levitation techniques. This achievement means that, with this cabinet, we can conduct microgravity experiments that are two to three orders higher in magnitude than that of the space station platform. We have achieved the world-leading microgravity level of 1E-7g for the first time and have the conditions to support and carry out frontier research such as those related to relativity theory and gravitational physics.

Fifth, for the first time, we have achieved telescience experiment ability, enabling the space-earth round-trip time with a delay of less than two seconds. We have established advanced digital twin models and a new experimental mode comparing objects with images, which has efficiently supported the in-orbit scientific experiments.

Next, the space application system will carry out in-depth container-free material science and high-quality microgravity experiments in accordance with its core module missions. We will successively complete the delivery, test launch, and in-orbit testing of the payloads of the two lab modules and complete the construction mission as planned. 

A total of 14 high-level scientific experiment cabinets of the space application system have been installed inside the modules of the space station, with each cabinet serving as a miniature space lab. On the outside of the space station's modules, we have deployed three large payload hanging points and two experimental exposure platforms along with flagship research facilities such as the Xuntian space telescope, which will fly in the same orbit as the space station. All of these will support the development of nearly 100 research programs and thousands of scientific research projects in multiple fields, such as space life science, microgravity physics, and space astronomy, as well as earth sciences, new space technologies, and applications. Major discoveries are expected regarding fundamental and cutting-edge scientific issues such as the origin and evolution of the universe and celestial bodies, material structure, and the origin of life. Scientific breakthroughs can also be expected in key research directions such as basic physics, space life science, space materials science, microgravity fluid physics, and combustion science. All these will help promote China's space science research and applications to reach a world-leading level. Thank you.